I'm A Celebrity fans call out 'horrifying' challenge after star’s injury: 'Cruel'

I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! is known for putting its contestants through some of the most horrifying challenges one's depraved mind could think of. From being immersed in what is essentially a coffin full of snakes to having to eat unspeakable things, the competition series has viewers simultaneously covering their eyes and excitedly watching to see what happens next.

However, many fans are concerned the show may have gone too far with a recent challenge that saw Paralympian Ellie Cole having to stick her hand in three separate boxes to pluck out stars - fending off rats and snakes in the process... and in that order. To make matters worse, the first box Ellie had to fish around in was full of offal, meaning that her hand was covered in what rats see as a culinary delicacy by the time she had to face them.

So excited were the vermin that they took a bite of Ellie's hand - which started to visibly bleed. Of course, once she put her hand in the snake box, they too got over excited by the smell of rats which are a staple of their diet.

RELATED:

• I'm A Celebrity slammed for 'insane' social media post: 'Really bad taste'

• I'm A Celebrity's Skye Wheatley praised for surprise reaction to 'insane' challenge

• I'm A Celebrity: Frankie Muniz in tears as he shares heartbreaking confession

The order of the boxes had fans outraged, with many accusing the producers of the series of not thinking it through properly.

"I'm actually really annoyed with the producers for doing this in that order," wrote one angry fan on Instagram. "Shocking."

'Elli [sic] was amazing but it was silly to have her hand covered in the smell of offal, and then put it in with the rats!" raged another. "The order should have been different, common sense needed to prevail!!!"

"Could not believe this!" someone else said. "What an absolute weapon, although I hope they don’t make them cover themselves in blood from raw meat and straight to animals again, BRUTAL."

'Cold bro'

Over on X (formerly known as Twitter), people were equally indignant as they rushed to the athlete's defence.

“Of course the rat GNAWED on her hand, it was covered in offal. Of course the snake bit her, her hand was covered in offal, rat and blood," one person posted.

“Meat before rats? Rats before snakes? That’s so cruel," another chimed in.

“Putting the offal before the rats was cold bro," someone else simply said.

Another person called out the producers for the misstep as well saying: “Should be given those stars. Someone didn't think the rats through. Then the snakes after."

Skye Wheatley praised after 'insane' challenge

Ellie's challenge comes after fellow cast member Skye Wheatley faced what host Robert Irwin described as “the most infamous and feared trial on I’m A Celebrity”.

“This trial is claustrophobic, it’s confronting, and it is very frightening,” he said of the challenge which required Skye to stay inside a snake-filled chamber for 12 minutes to win 12 stars for the camp while she also answered a series of questions about her co-stars to keep the lights on inside the box.

Upon leaving the chamber, Skye confessed that she “loved” the experience and felt much better when she opened her eyes.

“I felt like at that point we were comfortable in there together and I was one with the snakes and I was feeling really good energy,” she remarked. “It was really scary when I could hear them hiss for the first time, but I kind of got used to that.”

SHOP:

• The anti-ageing supplement that improves mood and energy: 'It’s made a massive difference'

• The 'game-changing' serum that helps clear acne: 'Magic in a bottle'

• The Melbourne lash bar celebrities love: 'So happy with these premium lashes'

Following the episode, fans took to social media to praise Skye’s bravery and her growth throughout the series.

“Crazy how calm she seemed the whole time, Skye handed it really well, so proud of her,” one person wrote. “Hats off to Robert also for explaining things in her earpiece and calming her through it. He was good at talking through it with her but still so impressive on her part, she did amazing!”

Want the latest celebrity news? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.